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Direct Contact Vs. Airborne Illness
Germs are everywhere -- in the air, water, soil, and even on you. While many germs are harmless, some may trigger infections that can make you sick. When germs invade your body and multiply, this causes a reaction and an infection happens. An infection requires three things:
Germs spread in several ways. Two of these include direct contact (touch) and airborne (through the air). Here's a closer look at each and how you can prevent them.
What Is a Direct Contact Illness?A direct contact illness is one that spreads when an infected person has direct bodily contact with someone who's not infected and passes on a germ. It's the most common way infections pass between people.
It's also possible to spread contact illnesses through indirect contact with an infected person's items or environment. For example, GI illnesses can spread from person to person on objects like doorknobs or toilet handles.
Examples of direct contact illnesses
Norovirus, scabies, head lice, ringworm, and impetigo are all examples of illnesses you can spread through direct contact.
Illnesses spread through contact with bodily fluids
Some conditions are spread by direct contact with the mucus membranes or bodily fluids from an infected person. These include:
Stopping the spread of direct contact illness
There are things you can do to stop a direct contact illness before it circulates to other people.
An airborne infection is one that you spread through small particles you breathe out. And the other person doesn't always need to be close by to get it.
Airborne vs. Droplet transmission
While similar, airborne and droplet transmission have key differences, including the size of the infectious particles you spread and how they react in the environment.
Airborne particles are tiny, can stay in the air for a long time, and travel longer distances. You can breathe them in even if you're some distance away from the source of the infection.
Droplets are larger and released when you cough, sneeze, talk, or even breathe hard. Then they come into contact with the mouth, nose, or eyes of someone nearby. Since they're larger and heavier, droplets land on surfaces quickly and stay within about 3 feet of the infected person. Some diseases can show features of both droplet and airborne transmission.
Examples of airborne illnesses
Some of the common diseases that spread through the air include:
Stopping the spread of airborne illnesses
You can take steps to avoid the spread of an airborne illness:
Here are some questions you may have about airborne and direct contact diseases:
Can a disease spread through both the air and direct contact?
Yes. Some illnesses, like the flu and measles, can spread through both the air and direct contact. When you are infected and cough, sneeze, or talk, you release some viruses into the air. People near you can then breathe it in. You can also spread them by touching germy surfaces or objects, then your mouth, nose, or eyes.
Can vaccines protect you against airborne and direct contact diseases?
Yes. Vaccines work by causing proteins to build up in your body (called antibodies), which protect you from certain illnesses.
Is a disease airborne if pollution causes it?
No. For the most part, airborne diseases do not include those triggered by air pollution, smog, or dust.
More Healthcare Workers Tied To Missouri H5N1 Bird Flu Case Developed Symptoms
Four additional healthcare workers who cared for the Missouri patient confirmed to have H5N1 bird flu developed mild respiratory symptoms, CDC reported on Friday.
One of those workers was in the higher risk category because they saw the patient before droplet precautions were put in place, according to the CDC. They provided a blood sample for serology testing to determine whether they were infected with H5N1, the agency said.
The other three healthcare workers were among the 94 workers who had contact with the patient after droplet precautions were in effect, theoretically putting them at lower risk, CDC said.
Blood samples have been collected from these three workers for serology testing as well, the agency said.
A total of six healthcare workers who had contact with the H5N1 case have now reported respiratory symptoms. The first healthcare worker tested negative for influenza (though it's still unclear whether this person will also have a blood sample collected for serology). The other five only had mild symptoms and were not tested for flu, CDC said.
Amesh Adalja, MD, of the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security in Baltimore, previously told MedPage Today that COVID levels were high when this case was hospitalized on August 22, therefore it's possible that all of these healthcare workers had some illness besides H5N1.
Nonetheless, if these healthcare workers -- as well as a household contact of the patient who developed respiratory symptoms but was never tested -- actually developed H5N1 infection, it would suggest human-to-human transmission of the virus. Experts said that would be a major concern, because it would indicate an evolution of the virus.
"Even sporadic cases of human-to-human transmission indicate a big change in the virus and suggest it is exploring new directions in virus evolution that bring it closer to a pandemic virus," James Lawler, MD, MPH, of the University of Nebraska Medical Center's Global Center for Health Security, previously told MedPage Today.
Results of serology testing on the positive case and the household contact are still pending, CDC said in its update.
Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services has not identified ongoing transmission among close contacts of the case, according to CDC.
Kristina Fiore leads MedPage's enterprise & investigative reporting team. She's been a medical journalist for more than a decade and her work has been recognized by Barlett & Steele, AHCJ, SABEW, and others. Send story tips to k.Fiore@medpagetoday.Com. Follow
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What Is Hydrotherapy: Benefits, Risks, And Techniques
Doctors have a lot of anecdotal evidence of the benefits of hydrotherapy based on the experiences of patients they treat, Blondin says. But hard proof of its effectiveness is hard to come by in a lot of cases.
"Scientifically, we don't know whether it does in fact relieve pain, help with pain management, improve circulation, enhance muscle relaxation, or improve overall wellness or mental health," Blondin says. "Surprisingly, there are few, if any, studies that address these questions, and of the studies available, they are often of relatively poor quality."
But doctors have seen many common benefits, Kunutsor agrees.
Pain Relief and Pain ManagementHydrotherapy reduces pain by relaxing muscles, lowering inflammation, and promoting blood flow to affected areas, which can be especially beneficial for people with chronic pain or injuries.
Improved CirculationWarm water in hydrotherapy dilates blood vessels, improving blood flow, which can enhance circulation and support healing processes.
Enhanced Muscle RelaxationImmersing the body in warm water soothes tense muscles and reduces muscle stiffness, and may promote deeper relaxation and faster recovery from exercise or injury.
Overall WellnessHydrotherapy may boost overall well-being by improving physical health, reducing stress, and supporting better sleep and relaxation.
Mental HealthHydrotherapy can improve mental health by reducing stress, enhancing mood, and helping with anxiety and depression, particularly through the calming effects of warm water and rhythmic movements.
There are distinct advantages and disadvantages to water-based hydrotherapy in a pool or tub as opposed to land-based hydrotherapy in a sauna, Kunutsor says.
Water-based hydrotherapy can offer some resistance to support joint health and muscle strength while minimizing impact and stress on the body, Kunutsor says. But water hydrotherapies that require communal tubs or pools come with the risk of infection, especially for people with compromised immune systems or open wounds.
Land-based hydrotherapy with saunas or steam can help to improve circulation and relaxation, Kunutsor says. But excessive heat can be dangerous for individuals with cardiovascular disease because it can raise heart rate and blood pressure, and there is also a risk of dehydration.
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